When Beth challenged us to take pictures of our favorite Christmas decorations for this week’s You Capture challenge, I’ll admit that I was bummed. I already did a very detailed photo post of our Fire Tree (please go see it; I promise that it is awesome). I couldn’t figure out what I was going to photograph. Over the week, I took a few pictures and finished it off this morning.
Turns out I have more favorites than I knew. Most with great stories.
This was the centerpiece in our wedding. That’s right. We had a Christmas themed wedding. Actually, our anniversary is tomorrow. My grandmother did the flowers for our wedding. This centerpiece sat in front of us at the head table. It was gorgeous then and it’s gorgeous every year when I pull it out of our holiday closet, dust it off and situate it on our half wall with the little Christmas trees that were the centerpieces on the guests’ tables.
See?
I added lights for the first time this year, which I’m loving. Though we plan to be in this house for another three years, give or take a Christmas, I hope that our next home has an easy place, like our half wall, to display our centerpieces. Other than our Fire Tree, it really is my favorite part of our decorations.
Next we have our front door which also brings us a gem from our wedding. Maybe your front door has a wreath. Maybe you also have a bell attached to your front door right now. We have… wait for it… two wreaths (small), tied together, made entirely of jingle bells. These were made for the front of the church on our wedding day.
Love them. I love how they jingle every time the door is opened or closed… even if you’re trying to be oh-so-quiet because you’re carrying a sleeping child in the door. Okay, well, maybe that part isn’t so hot but, otherwise, I love their shiny silver greeting every time I look at our front door. (Ignore the bows. I haven’t re-fluffed them since the wind storm we had last week. They’re a bit… mashed looking.) But, yes, I love the shiny beauty they bring to the door… even if you can see me, with morning hair, in my robe (no socks again! but no snow) on the front porch.
Finally, the last bit of favoriteness also sits on our front porch. You see, we have a firefighter that sits next to our front door. He guards it, if you will. He stands about hip high. On me, you know, since I’m short. At Christmas time, I take out a bow and wrap it around his neck like a scarf. It’s also another bow related to our wedding. It was some ribbon my mother had purchased to see if I wanted it for anything in the wedding or reception. While I love Christmas, it was a little too Christmas-y for the wedding. But I kept the bow. When we moved into the house and celebrated our first Christmas, I delegated the firefighter to wear the bow. Our front porch is festive and safe. No?
Did you really expect my favorite Christmas decorations to lack something fire related? Never!
And so, there you have it. These are my favorite Christmas decorations in our home, minus our Fire Tree. Though I do have a post coming with all of our Nativity sets. Turns out we have quite a few! (Do they make a firefighter Nativity set? If not, they should.) I’d head over to I Should Be Folding Laundry to view today’s You Capture post if you’re interested in viewing others’ favorites.
The next challenge is YOUR HOLIDAY. Meaning mine, not yours. I’m not showing up to capture your holiday! (A side note, there will be no You Capture next week due to Christmas Eve on Thursday and Christmas on Friday! We’ll be back on December 30th with a smorgasbord of our holiday pictures. Which works well for our family because we’re not celebrating in Pennsylvania with my side of the family until the 28th! WIN!)
Finally, come back tomorrow if you want to hear me blather on about FireDad, our marriage and general awesomeness.
33 Responses to “You Capture: Christmas Flowers, Bells & Firefighters”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Very pretty colors. I think I like the door shots the best, but they are all very festive
.-= Jessi´s last blog ..You Capture – Holiday Decorations =-.
Twitter: firemom
says:
Thank you! I enjoyed shooting more than just our ornaments.
I love the door shots — that jingle wreath is so pretty. Love the front-porch festive fireman, too. Nice pics!
.-= Michelle at Graceful´s last blog ..Blessings All Mine =-.
Twitter: firemom
says:
I love our jingle wreaths. I wish they could stay up all year.
Oh, I want your front door!!! That red is wonderful! And I love that you had a Christmas themed wedding. My cousin got married two days after Christmas and the church was still decorated for the holiday. Greens, pointsettas, candlelight. I was a jr. bridesmaid, and we wore emerald green dresses and carried velvet roses in our bouquets. I think it’s been 19 years, but I still remember how lovely it was. I’m sure yours was too!
Twitter: firemom
says:
I do love our front door!
Our bridesmaids wore red which matched the poinsettias and even the carpet of the church. Oh, memories!
Great, great shots! And happy (early) anniversary! I love your flowers, and the bell wreaths!
.-= Jaime´s last blog ..capturing the holiday decorations =-.
Twitter: firemom
says:
Thank you for the anniversary wishes!
Wow… I love the color and feel to all you photos.
Great Captures
.-= Alysha´s last blog ..You Capture: Holiday Decor =-.
Twitter: firemom
says:
Thank you for such a nice comment!
i always love your photos.
i have the same wreath but mine is blue and silver!
.-= staciesmadness´s last blog ..Darkness be gone. =-.
Twitter: firemom
says:
OH! Take a picture of your blue and silver one, please!
Your home looks like it is so festive! I love the pictures!
Being a fire blog, I was hoping you might be able to help me out with something. If you could stop by my blog and read my recent post you’ll see what I’m talking about…
http://kristiesnotes.blogspot.com/2009/12/please-help-if-you-can.html
Thank you!
.-= Kristie´s last blog ..Please help if you can…. =-.
Twitter: firemom
says:
Thank you for sharing this information with me. I have tweeted it. As I commented on your blog, I’ll be mentioning it in our post tomorrow. Please send our condolences to your friend. This is an unimaginable tragedy for any family. My heart is broken for her, especially at this time of year.
I LOVE your bell wreath! What a great idea!
.-= Mrs Soup´s last blog ..You Capture – Holiday Decor =-.
Twitter: firemom
says:
Thank you!
Happy Anniversary! I love the wreath. I took a picture of my hubby and my wedding candle and it is included in my holiday decor pics. Our anniversary isn’t until January 9th though. I loved having a holiday wedding. I’m sure you did, too
Twitter: firemom
says:
I did! Happy early anniversary to you!
The door shots are gorgeous, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE your Christmas flowers! Happy (upcoming) anniversary!
.-= jade @ Tasting Grace´s last blog ..you capture – holiday decor =-.
Gorgeous photos…wonderful color!
Great job! 
Twitter: firemom
says:
Thank you! The color was fun this week.
Twitter: katie_in_ma
says:
Oooh, I love your door wreaths! They just pop against that gorgeous red door!
.-= Katie in MA´s last blog ..Love has horrible penmanship. =-.
Twitter: firemom
says:
They do pop, don’t they? I think I always want to have a red door!
I just love that bell wreath!!! We’re very into jingle bells here, my son would flip over something like that
.-= Corinne´s last blog ..You capture – Holiday Decor =-.
awesome photos! I just love that you are able to use your wedding decorations each year. They have extra special meaning to you and your family.
Have a wonderful anniversary tomorrow!
.-= Domestic Extraordinaire´s last blog ..You Capture-Holiday Decorations =-.
Twitter: firemom
says:
They do have extra special meaning. I always get nostalgic when I pull them out.
And thank you!
I love the bells. I bet they are a cheerful reminder of who is coming and going this holiday!
Twitter: firemom
says:
Jesus carries bells?
I really like those jingly bell wreaths. Those are awesome. I used to buy a wreath for my front door every year but the last few years we have wrapped the door. I just love this time of year.
.-= Upstatemomof3´s last blog ..Christmas in NYC =-.
Twitter: firemom
says:
I love this time of year, too! I also love wrapped doors.
Love the jingle bell wreaths and the wonderful red door. It makes me want to go paint my door!
.-= colleen´s last blog ..You capture: Holiday Decorations! =-.
Twitter: firemom
says:
I must admit, the red front door was one of the first things that drew me to our home. We’ve repainted it once as it was dull and chipped. And then I created another chip after we repainted! UGH!
Love the bells! We had a Christmas wedding too and the decorations were soo easy. Happy Anniversay!
.-= Dcan´s last blog ..You Capture – Holiday Decor =-.